A brief resume

Paul Newell Sails is a small family run sail loft making sails and an exclusive collection of sailcloth bespoke bags and products that are contemporary, inspired and intelligently designed.

We strongly believe that bags should be comfortable, functional and have a simplicity of design. Our bags are designed and sewn by ourselves at our loft beside the sea in Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, Great Britain.

Paul has been a Sailmaker since 1971 when he started his apprenticeship with Ratsey and Lapthorn in Cowes.

He lived with his family who were boatbuilders in Seaview on the island.

He has sailed all his life and in 1977 he completed in the 2nd Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race on Condor. He completed all the legs of this race as sailmaker with his skipper Sir Robin Knox Johnson.

With the skills acquired over 40 years in the sailmaking trade, he and his wife Vanessa, an accomplished artist & designer, launched this new exclusive range of unique products reflecting our maritime traditions.

Vanessa acquired a BA Hons in Ceramics and an MA in Industrial Ceramics at Stoke on Trent. She worked as a designer for Lennox China in the US for several years before returning to London to work as a designer for Queensberry Hunt.

Vanessa designs the kitbags and products that are made from new sailcloth or recycled sails, whose day on the race circuit has ended.

The sailcloth ranges include personalised bespoke sailing kit bags & holdalls, sports bags, crew bags, duffle bags, wash bags and other products for the home and beach. They are ideal for weekends away, sports events, adventures, sailing into the blue, and travelling to far away places.

The wide range of personalised bags are extremely popular with boys and girls of all ages! Paul and Vanessa even made a bespoke personalised sailcloth hamper that was presented to Her Majesty the Queen when she visited the island!

If you have something special in mind that you would like us to make for you, please get in touch.

If you have any old sails that you have no use for, we would be delighted to have first refusal.